Attribution theory focuses on the differences in perceptions that people have of the causes of behaviors and events. In this study attribution theory was used to determine the effect of role in a counseling interview on ratings of causal attributions for counselor and client behaviors. Counselor trainees (n=42) were randomly assigned to the roles of counselor, client, or observer for 15-minute counseling interviews. Following the counseling the trainees rated counselor and client behaviors and the causes of the behaviors. Counselors rated their own behaviors and the client behaviors as the most situationally caused. Clients rated their own behaviors and counselor behaviors as the least situationally caused. Dispositional ratings were not used to differentiate the causes of behaviors. The relevance of attribution theory in understanding counselor and client behavior was discussed. (Author)